Call for civil disobedience on septic tank fee

A SENIOR member of Clare County Council has called for a period of civil disobedience in response to the planned septic tank registration fee and the household charge.

Cllr James Breen (Ind) led criticism of the new septic tank charge at a special meeting of Clare County Council to debate the issue. The 31,000 rural householders in Clare with a septic tank will pay in total €1.5 million arising from the €50 registration fee. At the special meeting, Mr Breen said: “There is no need for the septic tank charge or the household charge and the only one thing we need is a period of civil disobedience and a period where this country is brought to a standstill.”

A council report put before the meeting said the principal requirement of the proposed legislation “is that the owner of a septic tank is required to maintain and operate their septic tank in a manner that does not cause risk to human health or the environment”. The report states: “This requirement is in the best interest of preserving the existing environment and is consistent with the approach in other environmental legislation.”